Senate Democrats decide on committee membership

OLYMPIA – The Senate Democratic Caucus today announced the Democratic membership of policy and fiscal committees for the 2007 and 2008 sessions.

Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Committee:

• Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen (chair)
• Sen. Brian Hatfield (vice chair)
• Sen. Paull Shin
• Sen. Ken Jacobsen

Consumer Protection & Housing Committee:

• Sen. Brian Weinstein (chair)
• Sen.-elect Claudia Kauffman (vice chair)
• Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen
• Sen. Ken Jacobsen
• Sen.-elect Derek Kilmer
• Sen.-elect Rodney Tom

Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:

• Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe (chair)
• Sen.-elect Rodney Tom (vice chair)
• Sen. Tracey J. Eide
• Sen.-elect Claudia Kauffman
• Sen.-elect Eric Oemig
• Sen. Brian Weinstein
• Sen.-elect Steve Hobbs
• Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen

Economic Development, Trade &  Management Committee:

• Sen. Jim Kastama (chair)
• Sen.-elect Derek Kilmer (vice chair)
• Sen. Paull Shin
• Sen.-elect Claudia Kauffman

Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee:

• Sen. Jean Berkey (chair)
• Sen.-elect Steve Hobbs (vice chair)
• Sen. Rosa Franklin
• Sen. Margarita Prentice
• Sen. Brian Hatfield

Government Operations & Elections Committee:

• Sen. Darlene Fairley (chair)
• Sen.-elect Eric Oemig (vice chair)
• Sen. Adam Kline
• Sen. Craig Pridemore

Health & Long-Term Care Committee:

• Sen. Karen Keiser (chair)
• Sen. Rosa Franklin (vice chair)
• Sen. Jim Kastama
• Sen.-elect Chris Marr
• Sen. Darlene Fairley
• Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles

Higher Education Committee:

• Sen. Paull Shin (chair)
• Sen.-elect Derek Kilmer (vice chair)
• Sen. Jean Berkey
• Sen. Tim Sheldon

Human Services & Corrections Committee:

• Sen. Jim Hargrove (chair)
• Sen. Debbie Regala (vice chair)
• Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe
• Sen.-elect Chris Marr

Judiciary Committee:

• Sen. Adam Kline (chair)
• Sen.-elect Rodney Tom (vice chair)
• Sen. Brian Weinstein
• Sen. Jim Hargrove
• Sen.-elect Ed Murray

Labor, Commerce, Research & Development Committee:

• Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (chair)
• Sen. Karen Keiser (vice chair)
• Sen. Rosa Franklin
• Sen. Margarita Prentice
• Sen.-elect Ed Murray

Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation Committee:

• Sen. Ken Jacobsen (chair)
• Sen. Phil Rockefeller (vice chair)
• Sen. Harriet Spanel
• Sen. Erik Poulsen
• Sen. Karen Fraser
• Sen. Jim Hargrove

Rules Committee:

• Lt. Gov. Brad Owen (chair)
• Sen. Rosa Franklin (vice chair)
• Sen. Lisa Brown
• Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen
• Sen. Adam Kline
• Sen. Tracey J. Eide
• Sen. Erik Poulsen
• Sen. Debbie Regala
• Sen. Harriet Spanel
• Sen. Karen Fraser
• Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles
• Sen.-elect Ed Murray
• Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe

Transportation Committee:

• Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (chair)
• Sen. Ed Murray (vice chair)
• Sen.-elect Chris Marr (vice chair)
• Sen. Tim Sheldon
• Sen.-elect Derek Kilmer
• Sen. Tracey J. Eide
• Sen. Ken Jacobsen
• Sen.-elect Claudia Kauffman
• Sen. Harriet Spanel
• Sen. Jean Berkey
• Sen. Jim Kastama

Water, Energy & Environment Committee:

• Sen. Erik Poulsen (chair)
• Sen. Phil Rockefeller (vice chair)
• Sen.-elect Eric Oemig
• Sen. Karen Fraser
• Sen. Craig Pridemore
• Sen.-elect Chris Marr
• Sen. Debbie Regala

Ways & Means Committee:

• Sen. Margarita Prentice (chair)
• Sen. Craig Pridemore (vice chair; operating budget)
• Sen. Karen Fraser (vice chair; capital budget)
• Sen. Brian Hatfield
• Sen.-elect Steve Hobbs
• Sen.-elect Eric Oemig
• Sen. Debbie Regala
• Sen. Phil Rockefeller
• Sen. Karen Keiser
• Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles
• Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen
• Sen. Darlene Fairley
• Sen.-elect Rodney Tom

Democrats hold a 32-17 majority in the Senate.

The legislative session begins Jan. 8 and is scheduled to last 105 days.